Sirimavo Bandaranaike, Sri Lankan politician, 6th Prime Minister of Sri Lanka (d. 2000)

Sirima Ratwatte Dias Bandaranaike, widely recognized as Sirimavo Bandaranaike, was a towering figure in Sri Lankan politics whose legacy extends globally as the world's first female prime minister. Born on 17 April 1916, and passing away on 10 October 2000, her remarkable life journey saw her lead the Dominion of Ceylon, later Sri Lanka, across three distinct terms: 1960–1965, 1970–1977, and 1994–2000.

Hailing from a prominent Sinhalese Kandyan aristocratic family, Sirimavo Bandaranaike’s early life was shaped by a blend of cultural influences. She received her education in Catholic, English-medium schools, a common practice among the elite of her era, yet she steadfastly maintained her Buddhist faith and was fluent in both Sinhala, her native tongue, and English. After completing her secondary education, she dedicated herself to various social programmes, foreshadowing her later commitment to public service, before embracing family life through marriage and raising children.

Her initial foray into the public sphere was as the supportive hostess to her husband, S. W. R. D. Bandaranaike, a burgeoning political figure who would eventually ascend to the premiership. Through this intimate involvement, she developed a deep understanding of political dynamics and became a trusted, informal advisor to him. Her own passion for social welfare was evident in her focused efforts to improve the lives of women and girls, particularly in the rural heartlands of Sri Lanka. Tragedy struck in 1959 with her husband's assassination, an event that profoundly altered the course of her life and propelled her directly into the political arena. Stepping into the void, she swiftly became the Chairwoman of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party, leading it to a resounding victory in the pivotal July 1960 election, thus making history.

A Transformative Era: Policies, Challenges, and Nation-Building

Upon assuming office, Sirimavo Bandaranaike embarked on an ambitious agenda aimed at transforming Ceylon, then a former British Colony, into a socialist republic. Her administration spearheaded extensive nationalization efforts, bringing key sectors such as banking, education, industry, media, and trade under state control. A significant, and often controversial, policy was the change in the administrative language from English to Sinhala. While intended to promote national identity, this decision unfortunately exacerbated existing tensions and discontent among both the native Tamil population and the estate Tamils, many of whom had already been rendered stateless by the Citizenship Act of 1948.

During her initial two terms as Prime Minister, the nation grappled with considerable economic challenges. Sri Lanka faced high inflation, mounting taxes, and a pervasive dependence on food imports to sustain its populace, alongside persistent high unemployment rates. Her government’s Sinhalese nationalist policies, while popular with a segment of the electorate, contributed to a growing polarization between the Sinhalese and Tamil communities, laying the groundwork for future ethnic strife. Despite these formidable domestic challenges, she demonstrated remarkable resilience, surviving an attempted coup d'état in 1962 and later quelling a radical youth insurrection in 1971. A landmark achievement of her tenure came in 1972 when she presided over the drafting of a new constitution, which formally established the Republic of Sri Lanka, shedding its dominion status. Further cementing her commitment to social progress, in 1975, Bandaranaike initiated the framework for what would evolve into the Ministry of Women and Child Affairs, concurrently making history by appointing the first woman to serve in the Sri Lankan Cabinet. Internationally, she distinguished herself as a skilled negotiator and a respected leader within the Non-Aligned Movement, elevating Sri Lanka's standing on the global stage, even as the national economy struggled with inadequate development.

Return to Power and Enduring Legacy

The 1977 general elections saw Sirimavo Bandaranaike's party defeated, leading to her ousting from power. Subsequently, in 1980, she faced severe political repercussions, being stripped of her civil rights for alleged abuses of power during her time in office and barred from participating in government for a period of seven years. While her immediate successors managed to stimulate the domestic economy to some extent, they largely failed to address the deep-seated social issues that continued to plague the nation, eventually leading the country into a protracted and devastating civil war.

Upon her return to active party leadership in 1986, Bandaranaike remained a vocal and principled figure. She notably opposed the intervention of the Indian Peace Keeping Force in the ongoing civil conflict, steadfastly believing it constituted a violation of Sri Lankan sovereignty. After an unsuccessful bid for the presidency in 1988, she continued to serve the nation diligently as the Leader of the Opposition in the legislature from 1989 to 1994. A unique moment in political history arrived in 1994 when her own daughter won the presidential election, paving the way for Bandaranaike's appointment to her third and final term as Prime Minister. She served in this capacity until her retirement in August 2000, just two months before her passing in October of the same year, leaving behind an indelible mark on Sri Lanka and the world stage.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Who was Sirimavo Bandaranaike?
Sirimavo Bandaranaike was a pioneering Sri Lankan politician, famously known as the world's first female prime minister. She served three terms as Prime Minister of Sri Lanka (then the Dominion of Ceylon).
What was her most significant historical achievement?
Her most significant achievement was becoming the world's first female prime minister in 1960, a groundbreaking moment for global politics and women's leadership.
When did she serve as Prime Minister of Sri Lanka?
She served three terms: 1960–1965, 1970–1977, and 1994–2000.
What were some of the key policies during her tenure?
Key policies included extensive nationalization of various sectors (banking, education, industry, media, trade) and changing the administrative language from English to Sinhala. She also oversaw the drafting of the new constitution in 1972, forming the Sri Lankan republic.
What challenges did her government face?
Her government faced significant challenges including high inflation, taxes, dependence on food imports, high unemployment, and increased polarization between Sinhalese and Tamil populations due to her Sinhalese nationalist policies. She also survived an attempted coup and a youth insurrection.
How did she address issues concerning women and children?
In 1975, she established the foundation for what would become the Sri Lankan Ministry of Women and Child Affairs and appointed the first woman to serve in the Sri Lankan Cabinet, demonstrating her commitment to these issues.
Why was she stripped of her civil rights in 1980?
She was stripped of her civil rights in 1980 for alleged abuses of power during her time in office, which resulted in her being barred from government for seven years.
What was her role in international relations?
Sirimavo Bandaranaike played a significant role on the international stage as a skilled negotiator and a prominent leader within the Non-Aligned Movement, enhancing Sri Lanka's global influence.